So I've been hunting like a maniac for the past 3 weeks. I've had some good times and some close calls. I've passed on a ton of does (until the rut ends) and a couple of decent bucks, in favor a killing a big-boy. It's not that I think the rut is over, but the forecast in central OH is calling for high temps in the mid-sixties, to nearly seventy degrees, over the next 10 days. Have I missed the boat? Has anyone killed a nice buck in t-shirt weather??
I feel your pain. The weather has been very warm in MN as well for the past 10 days and has also rained at times (Nov rain is not very common around here). MN deer have very heavy winter coats and don't do well in 50's-60's temps. We will see cooler temps this next week according to the forecast but will still be well above normal. The average low temp around here this time of year is around 20 degrees. We only got down to 50 degrees a couple nights ago.
The boat is still waiting for you. The rut happens weather the temps are 0 or 100, its just set up that way. All those temps will do is maybe limit daytime movement, and your odds will and usually are better early morning and evening. That said, if a doe is in heat, a buck during the day wont lay by and watch her walk. He'll go looking.
Josh, I saw so many deer today. The boys were moving hard all times of the day. If you can get out tomorrow, go.
I agree to some extent, when does are hot, it will still happen. Years ago I shot a buck on Nov. 4th chasing a doe at 11:45am, and the temps got up to 70 that day. Only problem, not sure if the boat is still waiting? I believe the majority of the rut already took place, as it seemed earlier than normal this year, and in my opinion, it's winding down. Can always catch a late yearling, but do not believe that much more frenzy will take place?
i went out today at about 1:00 and sat till dark... Get settled and two doe came under me at about 1:15.....thought it was going to be a great night.... didnt see another deer the rest of the night...i dont no what happen, it was pretty warm, but i thought for sure it was gonna be a good night...i was in a gully by a crick bottom, nice and calm... try again in the morning...hopefully deer are moving because the temp will be the coolest of the day... I hope we keep seeing deer....i wonder how long the rut will last? week ? couple days?
not sure about anywhere else but i believe the rut is dead here in wi., my brother went up this weekend, and hasn't even seen a deer, last weekend, he sat saturday morning, and then the evening, and sunday morning and saw a total of 14 deer, 5 were bucks, 2 shooters, none close enough though. gun starts on the 21 here and i hope they get off their lazy butts and start moving
The rut will go on, it just isn't as fun to hunt it when its hot. I've had probably the slowest/worst "rut" hunting in a long time. Very little deer from stand However,I've seen 2 giant mature bucks and one good mature buck along the side of the roads midday. Last night after bagging Ohio and not seeing a "chase" on stand this year, I got home & went behind my house and within 5 minutes a spike run a doe past me a few times, but she never got close enough for a shot(but he did)
Last year it was really warm for awhile during the rut also. Deer sightings were way down but I did see the biggest deer I have ever seen in the woods. Nov. 4 @ 8:30 A.M., about 55 degrees and a 170" comes out of nowhere.
My take on It as well. What Irritates me again Is that the woods I hunt hardly has the scrapes It once had years ago. I was hoping by putting In all the mock scrapes I did that that alone would create some competition with the bucks and that they'd do a bunch more rubbing and make more scrapes. Didn't happen.
If you think about it, the rut HAS to go on regardless of the weather/temps. I think we see more daytime activity when it's colder and when it's warmer a lot goes on at night? It really is strange though, I saw next to no rut activity at all this season. Just some bucks cruising the last 2 weeks of Oct. Since then I've seen almost no deer at all. I haven't even seen a buck chasing a doe this year. As far as temps go, I was hunting the last week of Nov in Alberta last year and it was rather warm, especially for Alberta, so I was concerned about buck movement. On my second day it was in the mid 40's and I saw rut activity like I'd never seen before in my life! I saw 10 different bucks by 1:00PM, cruising through. I saw one 150" buck (which I missed) following a hot doe. After seeing this, it really confuses me as to how much the temp really affects rut activity.
I really believe that the amount of bucks and mature bucks you have around will greatly Improve the rut activity. More competition per say. Did you see much doe activity Jeff?
Same way here in KY fellas...warm and miserable, but I have to agree, the skinheads are in heat and the boys will move, even if it is right at dark. I believe weather and this warming trend plays a huge role in movement. If the does aren't moving much, then I don't expect the bucks will either. I found hunting in low damp cool places, during this heat wave offers a much better increase in sightings. All we know is as soon as that temp bottoms out overnight 30 below the norm, you can bet EVERYTHING will be on their feet!
I donned the chest waders and crossed the South Platt River. I took a position in my treestand for the entire day yesterday (5:30am-5:15pm). I had three layers of clothes on... temps were holding right at freezing-even colder considering in the wind chill. Needless to say, I frooze my arse off waiting for just a glimpse of a white-tailed deer. It didn't happen! I saw two squirrels and a mangy coyote. When it comes to hunting whities in Colorado, along the frontrange, I have very little chance for success. However, I have zero chance by complaining and staying home. Count your blessing, get out there, and make it happen!
You're right, Will. You most surely did man-up for that hunt. I'm done complaining! :D Thanks for the feed-back, fellas. Always helps to know that you're not alone. Ryan, surely you're not paying to stay in a motel or tent?? My cabin is probably less than 2 hours from you. Joe, you aint kiddin. I went back out and had a pretty slow morning but at 9:30, things heated up a bit. I saw 3 bucks in less than hour. No shots, though. I also discovered 3 new scrapes near my latest stand location, and 1 new rub. I had to come in for lunch (and to answer natures furious call ) but I'm heading back out now. 2 of the 3 were pretty solid 8 pointers and the other one was freak of nature. It was a tough view through the brush but I believe he has 4 points on one side and the other grows straight out of the side of his head and curls down under his chin. FREAKY LOOKIN'! This buck is ugly, I'm not even sure that Rob would kill him! . . .but I will
